Who Should I Start? Rico Dowdle or Kenneth Gainwell
Week 1 Projections
| Fant. Pts. |
Rush. Yds. |
Rush TD |
Rec. | Rec. Yds. |
Rec TD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8.9 | 32.3 | 0.3 | 2.1 | 14.2 | 0.1 |
Rico Dowdle News
Monday, March 9, 3:31 PM
The Pittsburgh Steelers are signing former Carolina Panthers running back Rico Dowdle to an undisclosed deal on Monday, multiple sources told Jordan Schultz of FOX Sports. Dowdle was never expected to return to Carolina in his search for an RB1 role after back-to-back 1,000-yard rushing seasons with the Panthers and Dallas Cowboys. The 27-year-old carried the Panthers' backfield last year when Chuba Hubbard missed time due to injury, and he finished with 1,076 rushing yards and a career-high six rushing scores on 236 carries over 17 regular-season games (11 starts). Dowdle's production trailed off late last year, though, as Hubbard was kept in the fold out of the backfield. In Pittsburgh, he may have a similar problem. Pass-catching back Kenneth Gainwell signed with the Bucs, but Jaylen Watson remains and could be a serious threat to Dowdle's fantasy upside as he heads into his sixth NFL season. Dowdle finished 2025 as the RB16 in half-PPR scoring.
Week 1 Projections
| Fant. Pts. |
Rush. Yds. |
Rush TD |
Rec. | Rec. Yds. |
Rec TD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9.9 | 31.8 | 0.3 | 2.7 | 18.7 | 0.1 |
Kenneth Gainwell News
Monday, March 9, 9:26 AM
Former Pittsburgh Steelers running back Kenneth Gainwell is signing a two-year, $14 million deal that includes $10 million guaranteed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Monday, sources told Jordan Schultz of FOX Sports. Gainwell was the Steelers' MVP last year, totaling 1,023 scrimmage yards and eight touchdowns as a dual-threat RB. The 26-year-old was a perfect fit for the Steelers' checkdown offense last year, as he ran for 537 yards and a career-high five touchdowns on 114 carries, adding a career-best 73 receptions for 486 yards and three more TDs on 85 targets in 17 regular-season games. In Tampa, the former fifth-rounder in 2021 out of Memphis will serve as a change-of-pace option behind starter Bucky Irving, effectively replacing Rachaad White in the team's backfield. Gainwell's fantasy needle is pointing up, although his 73-catch season in 2025 will probably end up being an outlier.
Rico Dowdle vs. Kenneth Gainwell
Still trying to decide between Dowdle and Gainwell? Check on the latest news to make sure both players are active and healthy. Our PPR projections show that Rico Dowdle is projected to score 8.9 points this week while Kenneth Gainwell is projected to score 9.9 points.
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